Paul Bocuse

Paul Bocuse
Bocuse in 2008
Born
Paul François Pierre Bocuse

(1926-02-11)11 February 1926
Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, France
Died20 January 2018(2018-01-20) (aged 91)
Collonges-au-Mont-d'Or, France
Culinary career
Cooking styleNouvelle cuisine
Rating(s)
Current restaurant(s)
Websitewww.bocuse.fr

Paul François Pierre Bocuse (French pronunciation: [pɔl bɔkyz]; 11 February 1926 – 20 January 2018) was a French chef based in Lyon known for the high quality of his restaurants and his innovative approaches to cuisine. Dubbed "the pope of gastronomy", he was affectionately nicknamed Monsieur Paul (Mister Paul).[1] The Bocuse d'Or, a biennial world chef championship, bears his name.

A student of Eugénie Brazier, he was one of the most prominent chefs associated with the nouvelle cuisine, which is less opulent and calorific than the traditional cuisine classique, as well as stresses the importance of fresh ingredients of the highest quality. Bocuse claimed that Henri Gault first used the term, nouvelle cuisine, to describe food prepared by Bocuse and other top chefs for the maiden flight of the Concorde airliner in 1969.[2]

In popular culture, Bocuse inspired the character of chef Auguste Gusteau in the 2007 animated film Ratatouille, directed by Brad Bird,[3] the plot line of which was also influenced by fellow chef Bernard Loiseau's life story.

After completing his formal education, Bocuse enrolled in a culinary apprenticeship in Lyon, a city renowned for its culinary traditions. Under the guidance of some of the most skilled and experienced chefs in France, he honed his skills and gained a deep understanding of the art and science of French cuisine.[4]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference LP was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ France on a Plate, BBC Four TV programme, 1 December 2008.
  3. ^ "Quand Paul Bocuse fricotait avec Rémy, le héros du film Ratatouille". BFM TV (in French). 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  4. ^ Buffet, The Cook Book (1 December 2023). "Biography of Chef Paul Bocuse (born in France but of German". Retrieved 3 December 2023.